The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on 5 May 2024 at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja, pledged to consolidate the collaboration between the National Defence College and Nigeria Customs Service to enhance national security and trade facilitation.
The CGC, while commending the commandant of National Defence College, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, said Nigeria Customs Service holds the college in high esteem, stating that NCS appreciates the college and its graduates. He also applauded the commandant for enhancing national security.
Still speaking, the Customs Boss noted that national security is not only about securing our territorial integrity but defining security to constituting everything from food, climate, environment and others.
He revealed that the college will continue to thrive, especially when it opens itself to other students from other clients, as they will bring their experiences and peculiarities to the institution.
According to the CGC, “Nigeria Customs Service has modelled the armed forces in coming up with Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC) Gwagwalada, which we have operated for almost a decade in building the capacity of our officers, and where we do not have the resources to do what we have similarly in the Defence College, we send our officers there to benefit”.
Adeniyi said, “NCS has taken a step further in building a specialised university for Customs, and we will be drawing support from other customs administrations around our sub-region and other established universities offering related courses to partner with them”.
The CGC said, “The university will build a robust curriculum that will deliver the kind of objectives that we have set, and as we get to that stage, we will turn our attention to your institution for guidance and support”.
He went on to applaud the Nigeria Defence College for embracing renewable energy. He stated that NCS believes in the outcome of the research and will collaborate to adopt some of the technologies in their operations.
In response, Rear Admiral Olumuwiya Olotu described the Customs Boss as a wonderful college friend who has always embraced collaboration.
The Commandant outlined the college’s goals, stating that they are implementing environmentally sustainable technology to spark a mini-revolution that will strengthen the national economy and create jobs for Nigerian youths.
